Contents

Chapter 1

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

There was a man named Job who lived in Uz. He was perfect, righteous, and feared God; truly a man who protected himself from evil.

2

And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

He had 7 sons and 3 daughters.

3

His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

He was the wealthiest man of the east. His estate included 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 oxen, and 500 female donkeys.

4

And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

And his sons ate and drank in their houses and called for their 3 sisters to join them.

5

And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

But when the feasting was over, Job called for them and blessed them. He awoke early and offered burnt offerings for each of his sons and daughters and said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." And he continued this for awhile.

6

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

One day though, the angels of God assembled before the Lord, as did Satan.

7

And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

The Lord said to Satan, "Where did you come from?" and Satan replied, "From journeying to all parts of the Earth."

8

And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

And the Lord said unto Satan, "Have you seen Job, my servant, a man like no other, perfect and righteous, one that fears me and protects himself from evil?"

9

Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

Then Satan replied, "Does Job fear you for nothing?"

10

"Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

"Haven't you put up barriers around him, his house, and all that he has to protect him? You have blessed his endeavors and you have increased his wealth."

11

But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

"If you take away that protection and the blessings of his estate he will curse you to your face"

12

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

And the Lord said to Satan, "Listen, all of his wealth will be put under your control but you are not to hurt the man himself." Then Satan departed God's presence.

13

And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

Then one day when Job's sons and daughters were eating and drinking alcohol in the oldest brother's house:

14

And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

There arrived a messenger to Job who said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding next to them."

15

And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

"And the Sabeans pounced on them and stole them. They also murdered the servants with their swords and I was the only one to survive to tell you."

16

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

While the messenger was still speaking another came and said, "Fire from God is falling from the sky and has killed the sheep and the servants and I am the only one to survive to tell you."

17

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

While the second messenger was still talking there came yet another who said, "The Chaldeans, in 3 groups, pounced on the camels and stole them. They also killed the servants with their swords and I am the only one to survive to tell you."

18

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

While the third messenger was still talking there came yet another and he said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking alcohol in the oldest brother's house:"

19

And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

"And a powerful wind came from nowhere and destroyed the four corners of the house and caused it to collapse. It killed your sons and I am the only one to survive to tell you."

20

Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshiped,

Job stood up, ripping his robe and shaving his head he fell on the ground and started worshiping God.

21

And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Job said, "I was born naked from my mother's womb and naked I shall return. The Lord gives and he takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

22

In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Even in all of this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

Chapter 2

Verse

King James Version

Proposed Conservative Translation

Analysis

1

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.

Another day came when the angels of God, along with Satan came before God.

2

And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

The Lord said to Satan, "From where did you come?" and Satan replied, "From journeying to all parts of the Earth."

3

And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

And the Lord said unto Satan, "Have you seen Job, my servant, a man like no other, perfect and righteous, one that fears me and protects himself from evil? Have you seen that he has remained righteous even though you had convinced me to come against him and ruin him with no cause?"

4

And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

Satan answered, "To destroy possessions is one thing, but a man will give everything to save his life."

5

But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

"Take your hand away now and let ruin come to his body and he will curse you to your face."

6

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

The Lord replied, "Listen, he is in your hands now but do not kill him."

7

So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

So Satan departed from God and gave Job sore boils from the bottoms of his feet to the top of his head.

8

And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

Job took a shard of pottery and sat down among the ashes of his estate and started scraping the boils.

9

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

And his wife came and asked him, "Do you still remain righteous? Why don't you curse God and die?"

10

But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

But Job replied, "You speak like a crazy woman speaks. Do we only receive good and not bad at the hands of God?" Even through all of this Job did not sin.

11

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

When Job's 3 friends heard of all this they came to him from their own houses. Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, each had agreed to come together to mourn with Job and comfort him.

12

And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

When they saw him and how much he had changed they raised their voices and wept and tore their garments and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

13

So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

They then sat with Job on the ground for 7 days and nights and no one spoke to him because they saw that his grief was too much.

Chapter 3

Verse

King James Version

Proposed Conservative Translation

Analysis

1

After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

After awhile Job cursed the day.

2

And Job spake, and said,

And he said,

3

Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.

"I wish I was never born nor conceived."

4

Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.

"Let that day be dismal, do not let God exalt it, do not let the light shine on it."

5

Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.

"Let darkness and death stain it and a cloud dwell upon it, let no light shine in the day and let it be terrified because of it."

6

As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.

"As for that night let darkness hold it and let it not be part of the year nor of any month."

7

Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.

"Let that night stand alone and let nothing joyful be said about it."

8

Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.

"Let them that curse days curse this one; those who are ready to mourn."

9

Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:

"Let the stars dim inside it, let it look for light but find none. Do not let it see the dawn."

10

Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.

"For it did not close my mother's womb nor did it hide sorrow from me."

11

Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

"Why didn't I just die in the womb? Why did I not become a ghost when I was born?"

12

Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?

"Why did the knees allow me to enter and why did the breasts nourish me?"

13

For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,

"For now I would be at rest, at peace. Sleeping contently"

14

With kings and counsellers of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves;

"With the kings of the Earth which built things that are now ruins."

15

Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:

"Or with princes with gold that filled their houses with silver"

16

Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.

"Why was I not stillborn and had never seen the light of day?"

17

There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.

"There the wicked can cause no trouble and the righteous can be at rest."

18

There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.

"There the prisoners rest together and do not hear the voice of their oppressor."

19

The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.

"Both small and great are there and the servant is free from the master."

20

Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;

"Why is light given to the miserable and life to the bitter soul?"

21

Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;

"Both of whom want death but for whom it never comes; those that want it more than riches"

22

Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?

"Those that rejoice abundantly and who are glad when they finally die."

23

Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?

"Why is light given to a man who does not know his path, who God has boxed in?"

24

For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.

"For my despair comes before food and my cries of pain are poured out like water."

25

For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

"That which I have greatly feared has come to me."

26

I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.

"I have no safety, rest, or peace, only hardship."

Chapter 4

Verse

King James Version

Proposed Conservative Translation

Analysis

1

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded and said,

2

If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?

"If we talk with you, will you get upset? Who can stop oneself from talking?"